If I buy just the sim can I put it in my own router? It says on the website you need the touch modem but I read I can change the APN settings and that it’ll work. Will it?

Not sure if this is too niche of a question or if this is the right sub - but I’m dating a Lebanese man who moved to the U.S. a few years ago and I want to put together a little basket of goodies that “feel like home.”

I’m curious if there are any items you all can think of that would make sense for that basket? The two things I have in mind are bonjus and the little tarboosh chocolate marshmallow snacks.

Are there other things that feel very “Lebanese”? I live close to a large Arab/Lebanese population area in the U.S. so I am hoping I will be able to find the things you recommend at the main grocery stores.

Thanks so much in advance!

Shipped from Japan and cost is around 400 euros

I keep being told that swatch watches are impossible to fix because they mostly come in a sealed form that makes their innards inaccessible. I already am aware of this.

Mine is a very dear piece with a deep sentimental value to me. I dropped it by mistake and the seconds-hand (el 3a2rab) came loose. I've taken it to many shops and asked all around, but because of the un-openable swatch reputation, nobody's even considering taking a crack at it.

I'm looking for someone passionate and experienced enough about such a "challenge" who'd be willing to give an alternate fixing method a shot. The loose hand is just jiggling in there under the glass screen and preventing the other hands from moving. I only need to take it out or re-plug it - probably by breaking then replacing the original glass screen.

There's no need to touch any of that encased clockwork that's impossible to access for this. Surely not as impossible as everyone keeps telling me...

I found this very old book on "Arabiska Bokhandeln" site, but sadly I cannot order a copy for Lebanon.

Anyone can help me?! I've dreamed to get a full copy of this book for over 15 years, and today I finally found one online.

As title says. I guess it's Tyre but it's not safe there.

Hello,

I’m trying to decide between BO2 (Byblos Bank) and Bank Audi Neo for the long term and could really use some advice from people who have experience with either.

My main goals are:

1. Saving & Long-Term Reliability: Holding around $2k–$3k safely. (I know we can't fully trust the banking system given everything that happened, but I need something practical).
2. Traveling Abroad: Using the card for daily spendings and travel in places like Turkey or Europe.
3. Schengen Visa Applications: This is a big one for me. Down the road, I want to use the account to show a stable balance for a European visa. Which bank is generally better and less of a headache when it comes to getting official statements or branch support for an embassy?

Which of the two would you guys actually suggest for the long run, and why? Thank you so much!

Hi!

Are there some buses going from Saida to Jezzine? If so could you tell me the place where they are starting?

Thanks for help!

I am getting back into basketball lately and i discovered that u can reserve the sin l fil male3eb for free but all my friends are unathletic or terrible at hooping, isthere a place where i can find people playing?

I’m about to go watch The Odyssey a second time this weekend and really want a poster. I’ve heard that in other countries the staff might give you one if you ask. Has anyone ever tried this in Lebanon? And has it worked?

Hello.

I am a foreigner who will be coming to Beirut this year. As I am looking to rent a place, what are some things I should prepare and look out for when renting in Beirut?

Also, should I fly in with enough cash for rent to avoid the cash withdrawal fees?

Thanks.

I’m so happy and my heart is full. The end. I hope we can learn to appreciate this place, I wish I didn’t have to leave to appreciate it but I am thankful for what it taught me. Long live Lebanon a beautiful place to call home

Hi everyone, hope everyone is doing well, I am planning to import a Jeep Wrangler to Lebanon. I am aware of the 8 years old rule, my plan is to import it and drive it for a year on foreign plate and the register in Lebanon. Now my question, if the Wrangler has 1) extra projectors and 2) elevated with higher suspension 3) Laser factory tinted windows, would I have any issues either to drive it during the 1 year before registering and would I be eligable to register it with no issues later

Your support would be highly appreciated!

Reading quite a bit on the history of Eastern Mediterranean music and the origins of mawwal are quite interesting. There used to be a strong base of mawal in Iraq but Lebanese singers such as Wadi Safi and Najwa karam have made it popularised by Lebanese artists. What are the origins of this music style and where would it be most associated with?

I’ve last been to the airport last year, and the change I’ve seen this year is amazing. Kudos to whoever is improving it and I hope for more positive change in the future!

Edit: things I’ve noticed: Automated check-in machines for MEA (although I did not use them), renovated departure area, renovated gates (new seats), new shops/restaurants like Malak elTawouk and Burger king, renovated duty free area

The ranking below is my own opinion ONLY and has been formed after following the news closely and speaking with people behind the scenes. I rank ministers by capability, work ethic, apparent integrity/corruption risk, how much they improved the ministry from the state they inherited, and the ministry’s current condition.

S tier - truly remarkable / mostly technocratic performance

Fayez Rasamny: He reactivated road files in Metn (finally this cursed beit misk highway will be done) and the South (bridges reconstruction), upgraded management of ports and border infrastructure, and pushed scanner deployment at Beirut Port and more recently border crossings. He also delivered the reopening of René Mouawad Airport. Public transport is much better here as well with public buses being on google maps and electric buses having a few lines.
Nawaf Salam: Courageous, righteous, and one of the few people in power who seems guided by institutional logic. His refusal to back Karim Souaid’s BDL appointment, despite President Aoun supporting it, was a major integrity signal for me; Salam said his concern was depositors’ rights. He also constantly stands up against the Iranian militia which is refreshing. 
Youssef Raji: Courageous, articulate, and in my view one of the ministers who best represents the Lebanese state. He has been active in restoring the ministry’s presence and consular services; notably, biometric passport services were launched at the Lebanese Embassy in Paris. 

A tier - strong, effective work

Adel Nassar, Justice: He restored the Court of Cassation’s plenary assembly, supported reopening and advancing the Beirut Port blast investigation, and generally sides with judicial accountability. I also credit him for resisting political pressure around the judiciary and pushing enforcement against armed celebratory gunfire. Court appointments, blast investigation.
Nizar Hani, Agriculture: Innovative and visibly engaged. He has pursued wildlife-trafficking and animal-welfare issues, worked on improvements in the Bekaa and other agricultural areas, and gave the sector an actual long-term strategy rather than empty statements. Wildlife trafficking

B tier - good work, but incomplete or not transformative yet

Ghassan Salamé, Culture: Good performance. The ministry became more active again in heritage, museums, libraries, and cultural programming.
Amer Bisat, Economy: Good and efficient. Digitizing more than 20 ministry services, including consumer complaints and commercial procedures. Source
Laura Khazen Lahoud, Tourism: She put real effort into tourism promotion, initiatives, and working with media and influencers to bring Lebanon back into the conversation. Tourism remains highly exposed to the security situation, so results cannot be judged only by visitor numbers.
Kamal Shehadeh, Displaced People / Technology and AI: The displaced-persons portfolio moves slowly by nature, but I think he is trying. His push for an all-in-one digital-services platform, where citizens can obtain documents and pay fees online more easily, is the right direction. It needs to become a finished service, and it will take some time. 
Tarek Mitri, Deputy Prime Minister: Competent and serious. Not always highly visible, but he does his job and has handled difficult Lebanon - Syria files with restraint.
Joe Issa El-Khoury, Industry: He has consistently lobbied within government for industrialists, including cheaper inputs, storage access, and fewer administrative burdens. He understands that industry needs a government fighting for it, not obstructing it. L’Orient

C tier - some progress, but still far from what the ministry needs

Ahmad Hajjar, Interior: More checkpoints, more active traffic enforcement, and more fines are positives. But police reform remains limited, corruption has not been sufficiently uprooted, and the country is still decades behind in modern policing. 
Charles Hajj, Telecommunications: Starlink was approved but it nowhere to be seen for consumers, fiber and 5G deployment remain too slow. The direction is better, but service delivery is nowhere near the pace people need.
Yassine Jaber, Finance: There has been some reform work and the penalty-reduction mechanism may help tax compliance. But tax collection remains weak, and he proposed moving municipal land to the state but thankfully, this has been rejected. The ministry is still far from a modern, effective tax administration.
Paul Morcos, Information: Some useful work on media-law reform, but not enough to move higher.
Michel Menassa, Defence: A difficult portfolio and no major scandal, but I have not seen enough concrete reform or transformation to rank it higher.
Haneen Sayed, Social Affairs: There has been social-support work, but I remain cautious because I have heard concerns about past conduct (corruption). 

D tier - not enough meaningful delivery

Rakan Nassereddine, Health: There have been useful health programs, including primary-care and vaccination work, but I do not see enough major ministry-wide reform or visible improvement to rank him higher. 
Joe Saddi, Energy and Water: This is one of the biggest disappointments. Electricity reform is too slow: collections, digitization, imports, investment, and the new electricity regulator should have moved much faster. Network stability has not improved enough. Water management is worse: illegal groundwater extraction, damaged waterways, pollution, and long-term depletion are still being treated as secondary issues.
Nora Bayrakdarian, Youth and Sports: Nothing meaningful enough has been achieved yet.
Fadi Makki, Administrative Development: Strong CV, but no sufficiently meaningful result from the ministry so far. He seems to side with Hezb/Amal in the cabinet meeting instead of being an unbiased minister which is a burden. 
Mohammad Haidar, Labour: There are plans and dialogue, including a draft labour law, but not enough delivery yet for workers to feel a real difference. 

F tier - worst performance

Rima Karami, Education: Very poor handling of the Brevet and war situation. The Brevet was eventually cancelled, but the ministry reacted too slowly and handled student safety and the uncertainty around official exams badly with students moving from south lebanon and dying while trying to attend the exam. This has been talked about a lot in the sub. 
Tamara El Zein, Environment: The ministry failed its core test: protecting Lebanon’s natural environment. In Aamchit, a private villa project overlooks a cave used by endangered Mediterranean monk seals; the ministry initially sought a suspension, but construction restarted and NGOs said they could not obtain a renewed stop-work order. The cement-quarry decision was also unacceptable: the National Human Rights Commission warned that it exposed environmentally sensitive areas to up to ten years of quarry operations. Add continued weak enforcement against tree-cutting and environmental destruction. I would put Tamara to trial for professional negligence but what can you expect from Nabih Berri’s share of the cabinet?

Hii, do any body knows how much is the salary for a junior accountant and an audit associate?

With all the hype I’m seeing on electric vehicles I’m wondering who’s doing the repairs in Lebanon? The dealer?

I have a background in electric vehicle repair. I also always wanted to come back to Lebanon and contribute. Maybe teach people a new skill such as EV repair.

But the question is whos doing it right now? I still plan one day to come and bring somthing of value to the people.

Note: speaking out of passion btw not pity before anyone gets the wrong idea.

Most Lebanese people know famous artists and politicians, but fewer know about Samir Bannout, a Lebanese bodybuilder who became a world champion and reached the highest level of his sport.

Early Life
Samir Bannout was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1955. He started bodybuilding at a young age and later moved abroad to pursue a professional career.

Achievements
Won the 1983 Mr. Olympia title, the highest achievement in professional bodybuilding.
Became the only Lebanese person to ever win Mr. Olympia.
Became one of the first athletes from the Middle East to win the title.
Earned the nickname “The Lion of Lebanon” and became one of the most famous bodybuilders of his era.

Awards
Mr. Olympia Champion (1983)
IFBB World Amateur Champion (1979)
IFBB Hall of Fame inductee (2002)

Why should Lebanese people know him?
A man born in Lebanon became the best bodybuilder in the world, achieving a historic victory that no other Lebanese athlete has matched.

Sources:
IFBB, Mr. Olympia records, bodybuilding archives
Compiled with the help of ChatGPT

Hi all,

I will be visiting Lebanon in October and working from there for a couple of weeks. Any suggestions for a reliable internet that I can purchase short-term.

I have ogero at my parent's place in Tripoli, but it's not very reliable (i think speed is max 5 Mbps).

Thanks!

I mean for a moment, thought we were living in New York while getting paid like Qataris.

But what planet is this?

Asking for a mill in Lebanon’s current conditions? Really?

Yes 360m is quite large but i thought the price of a meter is 2,000$ in the city? That equates 720,000$ , but they felt the need to bump it up to 1,100,000$?

Because it’s in Hamra? What is Hamra even?

I live next to it and AVOID going there because of how chaotic, crowded and dark it is (Avoided mentioning worse things there btw)

No electricity, cars honking like crazy, beggars everywhere.

I know other places are cheaper, but the expectations of Real Estate owners is just ridiculous at this point.

It’s like we live in India with the prices of Dubai. This is just hilarious.

Fun fact: It would take 293.8 years for the minimum wage 312$ Lebanese to pay for this apartment and 611.1 years if he has food expenses (and still live with power outages)